On Monday, September 26th, Eric Osth, AIA, LEED AP, Vice Chairman and Managing Principal of Urban Design Associates presented “Placemaking in Practice” to the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The following article includes further detail and support from the presentation.
Read MoreSummers Corner, a new village being developed by WestRock, just north of Summerville, SC may provide a model for how new communities can become part of a continuum of regional settlement patterns that are deeply connected to the environment - both natural and cultural.
Read MoreUrban Design Associates (UDA) is pleased to celebrate ten years of collaboration with Kennecott Land Company (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) in the design of Daybreak, an entirely new mixed-use, transit-oriented (TOD) community. From the very beginning, the goal was to set a new standard for sustainable, high-quality development in the Salt Lake Valley. Even as the project remains a 'work in progress', Daybreak has been internationally-recognized as a success.
Read MoreThe year 2014 marked the 50th anniversary for UDA. When David Lewis and Ray Gindroz started a practice focused on urban design in Pittsburgh in 1964, there was a big gap in the profession between designing buildings and designing cities. Architecture, land planning and zoning were often separated from both the social and physical context of city building and had little connection to place-making.
Read MoreUrban Design Associates (UDA) hosted a discussion of Innovation Districts at this year's annual APA Convention, held in Seattle. Innovation Districts are geographic areas in cities where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect. They are compact districts served by transit and they offer mixed-use housing, office, and retail.
Read MoreThe location of professional sports venues is often a hot topic, particularly in cities that are looking to develop new arenas and stadiums. Multi-modal access is highly desirable for these venues, the ability to arrive by automobile, transit, bicycle, or walking. For some teams, construction of new facilities in neighborhoods has stimulated adjacent development and contributed to the life of the city. Other teams have located sports venues in isolation removed from walkable neighborhoods.
Read MoreNashville has become one of the United States’ most dynamic economies, driving growth back into its core neighborhoods. In 2010, the city also showcased its resilience by bouncing back from a severe flood that impacted many parts of the downtown. The city’s growth and post-flood rebuilding gave the City an opportunity to craft a downtown plan with a multi-disciplinary team (1) led by Urban Design Associates. The outcome is envisioned to be a better version of what the city is today: more vibrant, connected, green, dense, attractive, fun, quirky, pedestrian-friendly, and mixed-use. It will be a place that is welcoming to both citizens and visitors. It will be authentically Nashville.
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The development company, Strategic Property Partners, LLC (SPP) unveiled their Vision Plan for Tampa's New Waterfront District to an audience of over 400 guests and members of the press at the Waterside Marriott. Prepared for SPP by a design team led by Urban Design Associates (UDA), the new district will include a new USF health campus, new residential, offices, retail, restaurants, hotels, and an expanded waterfront park. Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the event that included presentations by the mayor and members of the development team.
Read MoreAs residents, businesses, and startups re-enter urban neighborhoods, a thriving and creative economy is returning to our towns and cities. In neighborhoods where this transformation is taking place, a dynamic environment emerges with a rich combination of leaders, studio arts, food, technology, craftsmanship, light manufacturing, and performance spaces. Innovative regulation, mix-of-uses, and bottom-up development form a culture of constant tinkering. This has become critical to attracting and retaining talent in cities such as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Chattanooga, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Nashville, and Norfolk.
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